If you are new to the forums, you must login or register a free account before you can post. The forums and the rest of www.chronofhorse.com has single registration, so your log in information for one will automatically work for the other. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are the views of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of The Chronicle of the Horse.

Your forum sign-up is not complete, you must add an Alias/Screen Name before you can post to the forums. Your name and email is not exposed to Forum users, only the Screen Name is accessible or viewable. The forums and the rest of www.chronofhorse.com has single sign-in, so your log in information for one will automatically work for the other. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are the views of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of The Chronicle of the Horse.

Please complete your profile. The forums and the rest of www.chronofhorse.com has single sign-in, so your log in information for one will automatically work for the other. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are the views of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of The Chronicle of the Horse.

Announcement

Collapse

Forum rules and no-advertising policy

As a participant on this forum, it is your responsibility to know and follow our rules. Please read this message in its entirety.

Board Rules

1. You’re responsible for what you say.
As outlined in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, The Chronicle of the Horse and its affiliates, as well Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd., the developers of vBulletin, are not legally responsible for statements made in the forums.

This is a public forum viewed by a wide spectrum of people, so please be mindful of what you say and who might be reading it—details of personal disputes are likely better handled privately. While posters are legally responsible for their statements, the moderators may in their discretion remove or edit posts that violate these rules. Users have the ability to modify or delete their own messages after posting, but administrators generally will not delete posts, threads or accounts upon request.

Outright inflammatory, vulgar, harassing, malicious or otherwise inappropriate statements and criminal charges unsubstantiated by a reputable news source or legal documentation will not be tolerated and will be dealt with at the discretion of the moderators.

2. Conversations in horse-related forums should be horse-related.
The forums are a wonderful source of information and support for members of the horse community. While it’s understandably tempting to share information or search for input on other topics upon which members might have a similar level of knowledge, members must maintain the focus on horses.

3. Keep conversations productive, on topic and civil.
Discussion and disagreement are inevitable and encouraged; personal insults, diatribes and sniping comments are unproductive and unacceptable. Whether a subject is light-hearted or serious, keep posts focused on the current topic and of general interest to other participants of that thread. Utilize the private message feature or personal email where appropriate to address side topics or personal issues not related to the topic at large.

4. No advertising in the discussion forums.
Posts in the discussion forums directly or indirectly advertising horses, jobs, items or services for sale or wanted will be removed at the discretion of the moderators. Use of the private messaging feature or email addresses obtained through users’ profiles for unsolicited advertising is not permitted.

Company representatives may participate in discussions and answer questions about their products or services, or suggest their products on recent threads if they fulfill the criteria of a query. False "testimonials" provided by company affiliates posing as general consumers are not appropriate, and self-promotion of sales, ad campaigns, etc. through the discussion forums is not allowed.

Paid advertising is available on our classifieds site and through the purchase of banner ads. The tightly monitored Giveaways forum permits free listings of genuinely free horses and items available or wanted (on a limited basis). Items offered for trade are not allowed.

Advertising Policy Specifics
When in doubt of whether something you want to post constitutes advertising, please contact a moderator privately in advance for further clarification. Refer to the following points for general guidelines:

Horses – Only general discussion about the buying, leasing, selling and pricing of horses is permitted. If the post contains, or links to, the type of specific information typically found in a sales or wanted ad, and it’s related to a horse for sale, regardless of who’s selling it, it doesn’t belong in the discussion forums.

Stallions – Board members may ask for suggestions on breeding stallion recommendations. Stallion owners may reply to such queries by suggesting their own stallions, only if their horse fits the specific criteria of the original poster. Excessive promotion of a stallion by its owner or related parties is not permitted and will be addressed at the discretion of the moderators.

Services – Members may use the forums to ask for general recommendations of trainers, barns, shippers, farriers, etc., and other members may answer those requests by suggesting themselves or their company, if their services fulfill the specific criteria of the original post. Members may not solicit other members for business if it is not in response to a direct, genuine query.

Products – While members may ask for general opinions and suggestions on equipment, trailers, trucks, etc., they may not list the specific attributes for which they are in the market, as such posts serve as wanted ads.

Event Announcements – Members may post one notification of an upcoming event that may be of interest to fellow members, if the original poster does not benefit financially from the event. Such threads may not be “bumped” excessively. Premium members may post their own notices in the Event Announcements forum.

Charities/Rescues – Announcements for charitable or fundraising events can only be made for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations. Special exceptions may be made, at the moderators’ discretion and direction, for board-related events or fundraising activities in extraordinary circumstances.

Occasional posts regarding horses available for adoption through IRS-registered horse rescue or placement programs are permitted in the appropriate forums, but these threads may be limited at the discretion of the moderators. Individuals may not advertise or make announcements for horses in need of rescue, placement or adoption unless the horse is available through a recognized rescue or placement agency or government-run entity or the thread fits the criteria for and is located in the Giveaways forum.

5. Do not post copyrighted photographs unless you have purchased that photo and have permission to do so.

6. Respect other members.
As members are often passionate about their beliefs and intentions can easily be misinterpreted in this type of environment, try to explore or resolve the inevitable disagreements that arise in the course of threads calmly and rationally.

If you see a post that you feel violates the rules of the board, please click the “alert” button (exclamation point inside of a triangle) in the bottom left corner of the post, which will alert ONLY the moderators to the post in question. They will then take whatever action, or no action, as deemed appropriate for the situation at their discretion. Do not air grievances regarding other posters or the moderators in the discussion forums.

Please be advised that adding another user to your “Ignore” list via your User Control Panel can be a useful tactic, which blocks posts and private messages by members whose commentary you’d rather avoid reading.

7. We have the right to reproduce statements made in the forums.
The Chronicle of the Horse may copy, quote, link to or otherwise reproduce posts, or portions of posts, in print or online for advertising or editorial purposes, if attributed to their original authors, and by posting in this forum, you hereby grant to The Chronicle of the Horse a perpetual, non-exclusive license under copyright and other rights, to do so.

8. We reserve the right to enforce and amend the rules.
The moderators may delete, edit, move or close any post or thread at any time, or refrain from doing any of the foregoing, in their discretion, and may suspend or revoke a user’s membership privileges at any time to maintain adherence to the rules and the general spirit of the forum. These rules may be amended at any time to address the current needs of the board.

OTTB's ..... When does it stop?

American and Australian forums often have posters talking about their OTTB's.

That just isn't really a terminology used in Europe .

It seems that even when the horse has been owned for a long time and is doing something entirely different that it's still known as an OTTB. Why is that?

I don't see why its relevent or of interest at all.

It seems to me that the term is almost used as some sort of badge of office or as an explanation for why the horse has problems or issues or to indicate the owner might have done some sort of noble thing taking on a retired/ex race horse.

I wonder when an OTTB just becomes "my horse" or "a thoroughbred"????

Or must I start describing my thoroughbreds either as CRAPOTTB (Currently Racing And Presently to be OTTB) or my driving horse as a OADWB (Out of the Arena Dressage Warmblood).

(If the weather was better and we weren't iced over I wonder have time to think about such silly things!)

I know I call my guy an OTTB not to excuse anything he does (because he's perfect ) but because I like to show people that OTTB's are NOT fire-breathing dragons. If I turn even one person on to them I'll be happy.

Comment

My OTTB's aren't often referred to that way. I think most of us use that term more often here, on the BB, when we describe (for whatever reason) horses who have spent time at the track. Perhaps that's why you're getting that impression? In the 'real world' it's not something that I mention very often - (though I don't think I mention it here very often unless there's some reason on that particular thread).

I've got four TB's who raced or trained at the track. For the two who have been off for years, it just isn't relevant to their life now. I don't even think our trainer knows that kid #2's new horse raced. Now, that fact is a bit more relevant to the two who were at the track until a few months and a few weeks ago....

Y'all ain't right!

Comment

When I'm talking to people in person about my horse, an OTTB, I usually don't mention that it's an OTTB unless they start asking more questions. But when I'm on these boards I use the term alot. Maybe I should just start telling the people I talk to in person that my horse is an OTTB. Why? Because I'm pretty darn proud of what she's turned out to be. Yes, she used to race, and she was very good at it, which makes it even better that she's the horse she is today. This horse is probably the smartest horse I have ever met. I want people to know that ex race horses can do so many other things after their racing careers are over. There are so many homes needed for these horses and I know people think they're all a bunch of high strung, worthless...well...ex race horses that don't know how to do anything but race and that simply is not true. That's why I use the term OTTB when talking about my horse.

Comment

For me I have always just considered my horse a Thoroughbred...but he did race. I think I am in the minority on that.

But there are awards and grants out there that I have found for OTTB's that I will apply for this year because he does qualify.

I think saying that that a TB is OTTB gives a certain ideas.

1) That the person has "saved" the horse from whatever, and has been given a chance at a certain career.

2) That the person riding the horse has a "certain skill set," and the horse is now suitable for another career.

In both cases I think if says more about the rider or owner, then it does about the horse.

Flame away if you want to, but that is how I feel about the term. Horse training, is just that regardless of the origins of the horse. It is not something that everyone can do..although there are people out there that think they can. Some people should leave the training to people that can actually do it.

I also know breeders of TB's that want people to know that they are not just for racing. In some case they will put "Sport Horse" or "never raced" in their ads, because it gives a certain idea...that racing career was a bad thing or that the horse isn't a "bargin". Not that breeders have perpetuated that feeling but they want people to know they have quality and have bred for a certain sport. The sad part is that there are quality TB's that race...bred for their sport. The two are intertwined. A good horse is a good horse.

You see it here, all the time. There is actually a thread right now that is asking what is the most you would pay for an Thoroughbred that was on the track. The numbers are stunning. You can't breed a horse for the cost of what people are saying.

Comment

I always took it to be a mark of distinction. Like if someone served in the military, they are forever a veteran after that. The passage of time does not diminish the term in any way. *shrug* That's how I equate the distinction of being an OTTB. They earned it.

This it be all wot we want in life, wenn peoples dey loff us. ~ Willem

Comment

Probably has to do with the American obsession with child-rearing, and how everything that's weird, unusual, annoying, destructive, or out of the ordinary in any adult human is blamed on how they were brought up. We've passed it on to our horses. Dobbin is that way because, you know, he's an OTTB, raised in a gambling parlor by an alcoholic mother and promiscuous father.

Comment

I always saw it as either good advertising (depending on context) or shorthand for a group of common issues that these horses tend to share.

I don't find the term offensive, because I do tend to refer to my own horse as a TB (he is NOT off the track) just because there are some issues common to THAT group. So when I'm talking about a particular problem, ie. reactivity, sensitivity, etc. it helps to know that I'm talking about this particular breed and not, say, a Quarter Horse. I suppose I just see it as an interesting snippet of the horse's background.

Comment

When I've looked for horses for sale in the past I have wanted to know whether they were an OTTB or not. Simply because I would want to keep an eye out for injuries common to off the track thoroughbreds.

I also see it as kind of a way of dispelling the myth that off the track thoroughbreds can do nothing else good to the general public - because racing is an endangered sport. I think in this current day and age, horse sports are under attack, and the majority of people in the US do not understand them. The "What happens to racehorses when you are done with them" is a valid question asked by concerned animal right's advocates (and crazy ones too, but there are some valid ones) - because sports like grayhound racing didn't have a "next step" for the animals.

Comment

It's a frame of reference for me. I never use it off the boards, nor do I use it to infer that I have a "certain skill set" or have rescued all of them from an uncertain fate. I think those that think that are reading way too much into it & it's kind of ridiculous. It's just part of who they are, race training instills certain tendencies & behaviors, which can & do manifest themselves on occasion, sometimes for the better...sometimes, not so much. To me, they're TB's first, off track racers second.

Comment

My mare's being an OTTB had some relevance to me because she came to me having pretty much seen/ done it all and survived. She retired sound and went on to be my riding horse (mostly eventing and trail riding) for several years. She had quite the turn of foot too! She was never stakes placed but paid her way when she raced.

Plus it was kind of cool that her grandfather won the Kentucky Derby and her father won the Santa Anita Derby (just a KD prep race, but still).

Comment

When I use a reference to her being off the track in "real life", it's more because it helps people connect. They ask what kind of horse I have. I say she's a Thoroughbred. Some people think "purebred", so when they get the confused look, I add that she was a race horse when she was young. That helps them place what kind of horse she is.

I also like that some of her ancestors were famous. It's no different that any other horse person being proud of their horse's lineage. An acquaintance of mine is proud that her mare's sire is Wall Street Kid.

Comment

You've gotten a lot of good and well-thought-out answers, here, Thomas, which I don't think you necessarily deserved, so I hope you learned something!

You were also incorrect. The term "OTTB" doesn't exist in the U.K. ONLY because they are called Ex-Racers over there, and there are many many people and many many organisations over there which DO recognize the common issues OTTBs/Ex-Racers and their new owners have, and are there to help the horses and humans alike.

"The standard you walk by is the standard you accept."--Lt. Gen. David Morrison, Austalian Army Chief

Comment

It's a frame of reference for me. I never use it off the boards, nor do I use it to infer that I have a "certain skill set" or have rescued all of them from an uncertain fate. I think those that think that are reading way too much into it & it's kind of ridiculous. It's just part of who they are, race training instills certain tendencies & behaviors, which can & do manifest themselves on occasion, sometimes for the better...sometimes, not so much. To me, they're TB's first, off track racers second.

This is pretty much exactly the way I see it too. With many TBs now being bred for sport, color, crossing on other breeds, etc, the OTTB term just gives me a frame of reference for their likely past experiance, training and handling. Plus I know I can probably dig up a bit about that history with a few google searches or buying a couple of reports. I don't generally refer to my mare as an OTTB because, well, she's still the same mare I've always had, be it my racing horse or my riding horse, and hey, my husband keeps threatening to send her back to racing She and I have other plans for this year though

Comment

Hmm my mare is off the track , a long time ago-but is an Arab-there are quite a few off the tracks Arabs-I guess we don't have a name for them. Or for off the track QH and Standardbreds either?

My gelding is off the track also, but he's an OTQH, although I don't refer to him as that unless it's relevant to the conversation. It's also been awhile since he's been on it, too. Bought him at 6 and he's now 23. I got him privately from the owner. The track got closed to live racing and he had to move, but didn't have room for him at the new place. I consider myself lucky for getting him.

Comment

I usually refer to my horses just as TBs, but I must admit that I get a lot of "did she race?" questions, especially when someone see's how nicely she is going. Then I often get: "She is very well behaved for a horse off the track". Sigh.

Comment

I've rarely referred to my horse as an OTTB. In fact, I think the only time I have is when non-horse folks ask what kind of horse I own, and I say a Thoroughbred, which I usually have to follow up with "He used to be a racehorse" because they want to know what a TB is.

But seriously, I think racehorse is a stretch. He raced thee times, and did absolutely pitiful in each one. I've owned him since he was 5 (he is now 14), and I have never once felt like I was riding the typical OTTB.

I think the term is used a lot on BBs because it can be very pertinent to a discussion. A lot of horses that came off the track have specific training issues/quirks/problems/challenges that crop up in their new career, and stating they used to race helps the discussion along, and can help with offering advice.